South Korea: North Testing Radar, Ahead of Planned Launch

Five nations engaged in disarmament talkswith Pyongyang are taking steps to get the communist regime toreturn to negotiations over its nuclear program, which stalled inDecember after Pyongyang refused to sign a protocol on disarmamentverification.

The U.S. is sending its newly appointedenvoy for North Korea, Ambassador Stephen Bosworth, to Asia nextweek to help coordinate the effort.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clintonannounced Thursday that Bosworth will travel to Russia, China,Japan and South Korea next week. Some news reports said he is alsoconsidering a visit to Pyongyang. Bosworth met with U.S. PresidentBarack Obama Thursday.

The Russian official news agency Itar-Tasssaid Friday that Clinton has discussed the planned North Koreanmissile launch with her Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.

South Korea also is expected to name a newenvoy for the North, following the appointment of its currentnegotiator, Kim Sook, to a senior intelligence post.

South Korean news media say possiblereplacements for Kim include Wi Sung-lac, a special adviser to theforeign minister, Cho Tae-yul, ambassador to Spain, and ChoTae-yong, ambassador to Ireland.